Aleix Espargaro maintained the fastest lap during the 2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown test despite a rain shower late on the third and final day. The weather interruption, arriving with just ten minutes remaining, prevented further time improvements and halted the practice start sessions at the Malaysian circuit.
Fabio Quartararo marginally improved his best lap with Yamaha’s new V4 machine by a tenth of a second but stayed third on the timesheets behind Aleix and his brother Pol Espargaro, riding for KTM. Meanwhile, Alex Rins, Quartararo’s teammate with Monster Yamaha, broke into the 1m 57s bracket in the closing hour, claiming fourth place.
Progress Among Test Riders and Rookies on the Last Day
Dani Pedrosa, KTM’s test rider, made late gains to secure seventh place, finishing between rookies Diogo Moreira and Toprak Razgatlioglu. All factory test riders and rookies have been active throughout the event since day one, with Aleix Espargaro initially setting the pace for Honda on opening day.
Yamaha’s race team riders, including Quartararo, Rins, and Jack Miller, joined on day two; Miller quickly recorded the fastest lap of the second day on the new V4 bike. The official test featuring all teams and riders, except the injured Jorge Martin of Aprilia and Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini Ducati, is scheduled to begin at Sepang on February 3rd.
Comparisons to Previous Years Highlight Performance Trends
For perspective, Quartararo’s best lap at last year’s Sepang Shakedown was 1m 57.794s, and he later improved by a full second during last season’s official test. This year’s lap times remain competitive, though Quartararo is yet to surpass some of his previous benchmarks at Sepang and aims to lower his personal best when test conditions allow.
Recap of Day 3: Lap Time Developments and Rider Highlights
By mid-Saturday, Aleix Espargaro recorded a 1m 57.2s lap, narrowly edging out his brother Pol’s 1m 57.3s, who had earlier set the quickest time for the weekend. Quartararo followed closely in third, with his time matching Jack Miller’s fastest lap from day two. LCR Honda rookie Diogo Moreira showed the most significant improvement, slashing 1.6 seconds from his previous best with a 1m 58.3s lap.
Alex Rins and Jack Miller both improved on their qualifyings times from last October’s Malaysian Grand Prix, now sitting roughly half a second off their personal bests at Sepang’s official tests. Yet, Quartararo must still find almost one second to match his qualifying best, a challenge that depends heavily on favorable track conditions.
Impact of New Machinery and Rider Adjustments During Testing
Throughout the event, Yamaha’s new V4 front wing has been introduced, appearing during practice sessions in the hands of multiple riders. The mid-afternoon heat on the final day limited time improvements, but incremental progress was observed across the field.
KTM’s Mika Kallio showed marked advancement on the last day, moving from a 2m 4.376s lap with the early ‘850cc’ spec machine to a significantly faster 1m 59.807s. This suggests a transition to the standard 1000cc machinery, which aligns with the evolving MotoGP regulations anticipated for 2027.
Time Benchmarks and Official Records at Sepang Circuit
Current official records at Sepang stand with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) holding the best lap at 1m 56.337s set in 2024, while the fastest race lap belongs to Alex Marquez on a Gresini Ducati at 1m 58.873s from 2023. The shakedown test lap times this year have not yet eclipsed these benchmarks but indicate close competition among manufacturers and riders as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Manufacturer Performance and Rider Placements Overview
The fastest Day 2 time was clocked by Jack Miller on the Pramac Yamaha with a 1m 57.908s lap, showcasing the competitiveness of Yamaha’s new V4 package. Aleix Espargaro’s Honda test bike led on day one with a 1m 58.091s lap. The results reflect an ongoing battle between Honda, Yamaha, KTM, and Ducati for supremacy ahead of the official tests.
Notably, the 2025 Malaysian MotoGP race lap fastest times by manufacturer were dominated by riders such as Alex Marquez (Ducati, 1m 58.873s) and Joan Mir (Honda, 1m 59.293s). In qualifying, names like Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo stand out, maintaining strong laptimes that serve as benchmarks for 2026 preparations.
Readiness for Official Preseason Testing Approaches
The Sepang Shakedown test provides essential early data and rider feedback as teams refine their setups on the new V4 engines and updated aerodynamic components. With key figures such as Aleix Espargaro, Fabio Quartararo, Jack Miller, and Alex Rins leading the pace, teams are closely monitoring performance trends to gain a competitive edge.
With the official MotoGP preseason testing set to commence shortly, riders and manufacturers face a crucial period to optimize their machines for the 2026 race calendar. Tracking weather-related challenges and equipment introductions will remain vital as the field prepares for the first Grand Prix.
“The rain arrived with ten minutes to go, scuppering the last time attacks as well as the end-of-test practice start period.” ?Hazrin CRIC, Observer
“Aleix Espargaro set the pace for Honda on day one, showing strong form that held through to the final session.” ?Hazrin CRIC, Observer
“Jack Miller put the new V4 Yamaha on top of the timesheets during day two, signaling impressive adaptation to the updated machinery.” ?Hazrin CRIC, Observer
“Diogo Moreira is currently edging out Toprak Razgatlioglu in the best rookie battle, highlighting the rising talent in the field.” ?Hazrin CRIC, Observer
